Lothar Matthaus tips Bundesliga champions Leverkusen as top contenders

In his column for German sports magazine 'Sport Bild', Matthaus declared Leverkusen as the "favourite" to lead the league this year.

Matthaus, a former midfield maestro, attributed this high regard for the club to their impressive record as unbeaten champions and cup winners.

He noted that Leverkusen's advantages over traditional powerhouses like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were significant, highlighting the stability brought by coach Xabi Alonso, who has been with the club for nearly two years.

"The team has managed to stay cohesive and has been significantly strengthened by new additions like (Martin) Terrier, (Aleix) García, and (Jeanuel) Belocian," Matthaus remarked.

Despite his praise, he tempered his expectations, suggesting that Alonso's side might not replicate their flawless performance from the previous season. "I don't expect Alonso's team to repeat such a perfect season," he added.

Matthaus also turned his attention to Bayern Munich, his former team, noting that they are poised to be major challengers under new manager Vincent Kompany. "Bayern wants to have a say in the championship again," he said, underscoring the club's intent to compete fiercely this season.

The football icon also touched on Bayern's interest in Leverkusen's defender Jonathan Tah. Matthaus questioned the necessity of such a move, implying that Bayern's current defensive line-up, featuring the likes of Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier, and potentially Matthijs de Ligt, was already robust. "The Bayern management should consider whether they truly need Tah or if it's just a strategy to weaken Leverkusen," he suggested.

Matthaus was also critical of Bayern's handling of player transactions, reflecting on past criticisms. He compared current actions to previous remarks by Uli Hoeneb, who had inflated Harry Kane's price with public comments a year prior. "Now, Bayern is devaluing its own players with public announcements about sales," Matthaus observed.

Concluding his column, Matthaus emphasised the need for patience with the team and its new manager. "The competition knows Bayern needs to sell, and they are waiting. Bayern will need an exceptionally strong season to topple Leverkusen from their perch.

"Patience will be key if things don't go smoothly right away or if there are weaker phases," he concluded.